The editions will continue to go ahead but three of the four programmes - including tonight's - will see the number of contestants reduced from eight to seven.

Nathan Hageman, 31, won the first £1 million prize on Simon Cowell's new entertainment show, but concern grew after it emerged he had a violent past.

The bricklayer was initially reported to have been jailed for attacking a man but it has since been disclosed he attacked a woman, thought to be his ex-girlfriend.

An ITV spokesman said today: "ITV has reviewed the background checks on remaining contestants from Red or Black?

"As a result of this we have asked producers to remove three contestants from this week's shows. Red or Black? will continue on these occasions with seven, rather than eight, contestants."

He added that ITV Studios, Cowell's production company Syco and the ITV Network were "working closely and collaboratively together to ensure that the show continues its success".

ITV knew about Mr Hageman's five-year jail sentence, of which he served two-and-a-half years, but it is thought to have been unaware the victim was a woman.

Mr Hageman previously told journalists he attacked a male victim after he started getting threatening calls from a man in Reading.

"I tried to brush it off but he kept saying he was going to harm me. One night he told me my address and said he was going to come round and batter me in front of my mum and niece Mya, who was only about two," he told The Sun.

He said: "I was an idiot for doing it, I know, but that's the state of mind I was in.

"He wasn't seriously hurt, but he made a complaint and I was arrested. I was charged with aggravated burglary and ABH. I pleaded guilty straight away as I knew what I'd done was wrong. I got five years."

When the show was launched in May, presenter Ant McPartlin said there would be checks in place to ensure winners were "not going to be criminals".

However at the same event, Cowell pointed out the show was likely to feature "all types".

Asked how show bosses would make sure there was a worthy winner, McPartlin said: "All the checks will be in place so they're not going to be criminals but when you randomly select people, who knows? And I love the idea that someone from any background could win £1 million.

"I don't think we should discriminate at all."

His co-presenter Dec Donnelly added: "And also, who is the moral guardian? Who says, I don't think you should win £1 million?"

Cowell said: "As you know from watching our shows, we've had all types."

The two contestants who were removed from shows earlier today are understood to have been dropped because of criminal convictions and programme-makers did not think it was appropriate for them to continue.

The contestant was dropped from tonight's show because of "inconsistencies" which arose during the background check, according to a source.